Alice Liddell is dead and Wonderland is still reeling from a revolution that spanned the entire kingdom. A new King sits upon the throne - Jack, the former Knave of Hearts and once prince and revolution leader, is learning to cope with his new position as monarch of Wonderland. The tests to find new Alices in hopes of restoring Wonderland's magic continue as her inhabitants slowly pieces her back together. Yet questions still linger: where are the old King and his Queen? And how long can the vast array of Wonderlanders keep themselves hidden from the rest of London during their increasingly frequent trips to the city so far beyond the looking glass?
Welcome to Far Beyond The Looking Glass, a present day rp based on the characters from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There. It is currently Autumn 2014 in London, England, and Wonderland is currently experiencing an autumn-like season, too. Have a look around and don't be afraid to pop in the cbox if you have a question as we're quite a friendly bunch. We hope you decide to join and welcome!

QUOTE/LYRICS: I wasn't always this way, I used to be the one with the halo. But that disappeared when I had my first taste and fell from grace, it left me in this place. Now I'm starting to think maybe you like it. I'm not an angel

<div class="roseimg"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/p8SzF0f.gif"></img></div><div class="rosename">a rose</div><div class="rosequote">by any other name would smell as sweet</div><div class="rosecontent"><p>

<P>Rhiannon had just excused herself from Fintan's company, the white rabbit having plenty to do this afternoon without Rhea wasting precious time. Fintan <i>never</i> squandered time, everyone knew that. Adrift, Rhiannon aimlessly wandered the Palace. The festivities were just beginning and she planned to head into the fray later on, once people began to fill the stands and swarm the grounds. For now, she enjoyed the bustle of cards and Wonderlanders gathering to prepare the castle for visitors. Every banister sparkled with polish and each rug had been hand-beaten and scrubbed to its former glory. Gone were the gory memories of Sienna's misconduct. No more the remnants of a mad queen, other than her very lonely and mentally disturbed Red Knight.<p>

Beautiful tapestries had been unrolled, centuries old and freshly spun all. Rhiannon had brought in a number of wonderful loom-workers to fill the walls, paying them directly from the Castle's hordes of money - now dwindling after all the reconstruction and payments to those who lost loved ones and suffered permanent injuries. There was only so much Rhiannon and Jack could do. But hopefully this could help, even if all the gala accomplishes is bringing the people of Wonderland together.<p>Rhiannon watched her people running about the palace, busy as bees. She would have continued walking the halls if she didn't spot a head of blonde, somewhat familiar hair. Janine? Jennie? <i>No, Jenna. Jenna Oswald.</i> Her name floated up from the depths of Rhea's memory, tossed among the names of dozens of Cards and ranks. Rhiannon could remember the name but not the suit or rank, not that she cared one bit what level any card was as long as they were loyal and happy. But this girl was familiar for another reason. <p>

She'd heard the name more than once, in hushed tones. This woman had some relation to Wonderland and London, Rhea was certain. She just couldn't recall how or why. Then again, she also knew very little of London by personal choice. Wonderlanders had begun slipping into the human world when Rhea was only seventeen--and she had been much too invested in her future to bother rebelling by going to the secret world of human contraptions. <p>

Curious, Rhiannon stopped in the hall and pondered. Would it be rude to ask the girl? She shook her head. It wasn't rude; Rhiannon was Queen. She <i>needed</i> to understand what Jenna did for Wonderland. Rhea needed to understand everything about her realm and her new home. What could she possibly do for Wonderland if she was ignorant? <p>

<b>"Excuse me, Miss Oswald?"</P> Rhiannon was glad she remembered the girl's name, it would have been awkward to need an introduction. She approached on light feet, carrying the thick folds of her dress to keep it from getting caught under her feet. Maybe higher heels were necessary. <b>"I'm glad I ran into you."</b> She smiled, a sincere expression. She was too happy to be conniving, and too nervous about the day to have an agenda. She simply wanted to learn. <p>

<b>"I do hope you'll join in the festivities today,"</b> Rhiannon dropped her skirts with a swish of fabric and held out her hand. <b>"If you don't mind, I was hoping to ask you a few things."</b> <p>

<div class="roseimg"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/p8SzF0f.gif"></img></div><div class="rosename">a rose</div><div class="rosequote">by any other name would smell as sweet</div><div class="rosecontent"><p>

<p>The crowds had gathered in hordes, filling the palace to the brim. Rhiannon had ventured toward on a whim, curious to see how the tournaments were progressing. What she discovered was how quickly emotion flared when money was involved. Granted, all bets placed with the palace cards were funneled into various reconstruction projects rather than returned as money – doubled by the Palace itself should that team win - but there were plenty of underhanded members of society wanting their own bite of the pie.<p>

Suffice it to say, when Rhiannon stepped out beyond the shelter of the palace walls she tumbled into a cacophony of shouts, varied hoorahs and naysayers blending into a roar loud enough to vibrate beneath her sternum. Rhiannon lasted about fifteen minutes in the crowds, smiling haphazardly at Wonderlanders and tryhing not to get trampled. By the time she squeezed between burly men lining up for the javelin toss, her hair was askew and her dress visibly disheveled. She escaped on shaking legs to the palace maze. A reasonably popular adventure most days, the maze lay silent as a church and near abandoned. Most folks would prefer visiting the various games and food stalls than get lost for hours upon end. <p>

Since arriving in the palace Rhiannon spent many an afternoon memorizing the palace maze. She only knew two routes from the topiary gateway to the center but it was a nice respite from the mayhem behind her. Rhea disappeared within the surprisingly soundproof green walls and took three left turns, a right and then another left, tempering her breathing with slow inhales. Easy. This was an event she had planned. It would go perfectly, and just because it was a bit too high energy for her at the moment didn’t mean it wasn’t going to be a huge success. Maybe it was simply that she’d never seen so many people in a single place before; she had been very far away from the revolution’s battlefields, busy in her hometown ironing out deals for livestock and grain. <p>

Really, Rhiannon had yet to feel very Queen-like. This huge gala was her first act as Queen—and she was hiding in shrubbery. How Sienna would laugh. <p>

Rhea turned right, pausing. Did she miss a turn? No, she just went the wrong way. As Rhiannon turned on her heel to correct her course, she heard something. <i>Someone in the maze?</I> She peered into the shadows of the shrubbery and just barely made out a smudge of a person a couple yards away, nearly hidden against the walls. <p>

<b>”Hello? Are you alright over there?”</b> People could get lost for days in the maze; Rhea had seen a few younger children and one very hungry card discovered and taken immediately to the hospital wing upon arriving in the palace. She sincerely hoped this wasn’t the case but a lump of dread sat like a stone in her stomach. <p>

Not today. Please, no injured citizens or half-starved children on this of all days.<p><p>

<div class="roseimg"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/p8SzF0f.gif"></img></div><div class="rosename">a rose</div><div class="rosequote">by any other name would smell as sweet</div><div class="rosecontent"><p>

<p>What a brilliant success the Gala had become. After saving a shy, sweet little flower and mustering up the courage to waltz into the tournament to cheer on some very enthralling matches, Rhiannon felt a new hope blossoming in her chest. This was happening. She was Queen, she’d created this brilliant event for her people. And they were <i>happy.</i> For the first time since the Revolution, there were no guarded faces. No shuffling footsteps, every Wonderlander giving the other wide berths or picking fights over the outcome. <p>

Just excitement, a little charity, and so much food she wondered if they would be eating feast food for a week. <p>

Her cheeks rosy from the thrill of it all, adrenaline swimming deep in her veins, Rhea strode through the gathering crowds awaiting the next tournament match toward the Palace. If things were looking great out here, then maybe she should check on the night’s festivities; the ballrooms – there were at least three, though Rhiannon was sure Sienna hadn’t opened their doors in centuries – had been redecorated and cleared of dusty furniture. Great candelabras hung above with dripping candles, all shades of gold, ivory and silver. A magnificent balcony opened out to the palace gardens in the far ballroom and this was where Rhiannon chose to stop first. The flowers were her favorites; even the decorations for this particular room had been done specifically to accent the gorgeous garden outside. <p>

Rhiannon ducked between the wooden structures built to hang garlands across the ceiling and entered the sparsely occupied room. She knew, once the festivities outside slowed to a halt, the bands would strike up beautifully written Wonderland music and the dancing would begin. She couldn’t wait; the conversation, the hodge-podge of different creatures and legendary beasts all, whiling the night away in celebration. <p>

<P>Pride swelled as Rhiannon Lowell dressed in her own chambers. She had been relocated to the enormous room Sienna once owned, with wide bay windows and gold filigree across every surface. Rhiannon didn't care about the bedroom - which she planned to gut and redecorate anyway, no need for Sienna's personal taste to linger after her time. The reason Rhea couldn't stop smiling as she finished the last twist of her braid was because downstairs the palace doors hung open and hordes of people had come together. <p>

And Rhiannon had been the front-runner for the entire event, thanks to Jack's wonderful offer. There were Wonderlanders from all across the land gathering simply to have fun; to start off Jack and Rhiannon's rule, it wasn't half bad. Rhiannon had foregone the crown for the day's festivities, instead keeping her hair back in a half braid. She didn't need the crown to prove her authority. She <i>was</i> Queen. It was satisfying, the power to change things in this world. Even when she'd been a child, Rhea hadn't believed she was capable of this, standing in a palace she shared with a King. <p>

Rhiannon strode downstairs in a swish of skirts, smiling broadly at everyone she passed. Music drifted up from the hall below, reverberating through the palace. Outside, sudden cheers rose up and intermingled with the music; Wonderlanders, watching the tournaments. Rhiannon paused to glance out the window. The palace had never looked so lively. Well. It was high time she took a look around and see how her efforts prospered. <p>

And if they see the Queen joining in the gala, just maybe she could wash away a little bit more of Sienna's tyranny with her own brand of monarchy.<p>

<p>Rhiannon was pretty overwhelmed by the entire ordeal. First she had to stand in front of hundreds of Wonderlanders professing her promise to Jack—handwritten vows and all. Then she was <i>kissed</i>, for the very first time, in front of said hundreds of people. The reception was beautiful and she danced with a number of subjects before taking a breather at a table on her own. Jack had plenty of people to keep him company and besides they were married now. She could spend the rest of her life bothering him for attention. <p>

After the festivities, Rhea was surprised to hear about the lantern lighting Jack had set up. It was a sweet gesture, though it saddened her a little that he wouldn’t be riding in the same boat with her. Again. He had plenty of people to keep him company, he didn’t need a leech of a wife wrapped around his neck like chains. Tucked into a nice boat her cards had set up for her, garnished with white and red rose petals strewn across the floor and benches, Rhea awaited the big event. She’d paddle out soon but first she wanted to take in the view. Thousands of people and as many boats rowed out to the center of the lake, all for her and Jack. If she wasn’t cowed enough by their love for King Jack, this put the final nail in the coffin of her resolve. <p>

She never wanted to wrench away power from her husband – ugh, husband, was that even proper to say? It felt like blasphemy. She wanted to rule at his side as his equal. To give her experience and hone her skills. To emblazon her name across the history of Wonderland and burn the Bloody Queen right out of memory. It wouldn’t be so easy as that, she knew. That woman ruled for centuries as a psychotic tyrant. <p>

The boat rocked gently, listing at the shoreline. Rhiannon had foregone the wedding dress with its tremendous train for a simple, knee-length white dress. Atop her head a golden crown sparkled, delicately crafted and curved like tender vines. Jewels sparkled, topaz and ruby. The jeweler had outdone himself. In her lap sat her own lantern. She felt a little silly sending up a lantern to celebrate her own wedding but she was told to make a wish when she sent it up. Maybe she could hope for something good. <p>

autumn leaves has been skinned exclusively for far beyond the looking glass by asya.she would appreciate it if you didn't steal/use this skin without her permission.for full credits, please view the credits post here.